Loose leaf binder



g- 15, 1933- c. E. MOREHOUSE LOOSE LEAF B INDEB 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 16. 1932 INVENTOR. CYRUS E.MOREHOUSE.

ATTOR EY.

Aug. 15, 1933. c. E. MOREHOUSE. 1,922,691

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Fiied March 16. 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

CYR US E. M 035110055 ATTORNEY.

Aug. 15,1933 (3. E. MOREHOUSE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed March 16. 1932 3Sheets-Sheet 3 T if IN 1 EN TOR. C mus E. MORBHOUSE Z/f. ATTORN Y.

Patented Aug. 15, 1933 LOOSE LEAF BINDER Cyrus E. Morehouse, CliftonHeights, Pa., as-

signor to National Publishing Company,

Philadelphia, Pa., a Corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 16,1932. Serial No. 599,177

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful loose leaf binder, and itrelates more particularly to a loose leaf binder of the slide bar type,whereby suitably apertured leaves or sheets are retained upon postsbetween two flexibly connected bars, to one of which the posts arerigidly secured, and the other of which is detachably secured to theother ends of the posts by means of a slide mountedwithin said otherbar.

One of the objects of my invention'is to provide a loose leaf binder ofthis character, of a simplified and more durable construction, whichwill be dependable in operation and wherein the slide will not becomeaccidentally disengaged.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear more fullyfrom the following de tailed description, my invention consists of aloose leaf binder including a pair of flexibly connected covers, a pairof bars, one of which is flexibly or hingedly secured to each of saidcovers, in proximity to the common back thereof, a plurality of postscarried rigidly by, and projecting at substantially a right-angle fromone of said bars,

and each having an adjustable head, a plurality of recesses in the otherbar in registering alignment with said posts and being adapted toreceive said heads and interlocking therewith by engagement beneath thesame, and a slide slidably mounted in said latter bar, and operablemanually, for locking said post heads Within said bar at will. I

My invention further consists of other novel features of constructionwhich will appear more fully from the following description.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred byme, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized, and that my invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as hereinshown and described.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicatelike parts, t

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a loose leaf binder embodyingmy invention, the same being shown-open, with the bars separated, readyto receive suitably apertured sheets.

Figure 2b is a top plan view of the same, in the same condition.

Figure 3a represents a bottom plan view of or partly locked position.

.the upper bar, with the slide in an intermediate Figure 3b represents atop plan view of the Figure 4-1) represents a top plan view of the Isame.

Figure 5 represents a fragmentary bottom plan view of the opposite endof the slide.

Figure 6 represents an end view of the upper bar, showing the frictionalend of the slide which is illustrated in plan view in Figure 5.

Figure '7 represents a section through line '7-7 of Figure 1, on a muchenlarged scale, with the binder shown in the locked position.

Figure 8 represents a fragmentary front edge view of the upper bar, withthe slide entirely pulled out and unattached to a binding post.

Figure 9 represents a similar View, with the bar attached to the postbut not locked thereto.

, Figure 10 represents a similar view showing the upper bar locked tothe post.

Figure 11 represents a section on line 11-11 of Figure 7. V

Figure 12 represents a section on line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 represents a perspective view of a modified loose-leaf binderembodying my invention, same being shown open and with the barsseparated.

Figure 14 represents a section on line 14-14 of Figure 13.

. Figure 15 represents a section taken generally on line 1515 of Figure14.

Figure 16 represents a section on line 1616 of Figure 13 with the barsinterlocked, illustrating a further modified construction embodying myinvention.

The loose leaf binder of my present invention includes covers 12 and 13,which may be either flexible or stiff, as desired, being flexibly orhingedly connected to each other by means of a back portion 14, whichmay also be of a flexible or pliable character.

To the bottom cover 13 the bar 15 is flexibly or hingedly secured, as at16, while to the cover 12, the upper bar, designated generally by thenumeral 17, is flexibly or hingedly secured, as at 18.

1 The bars .15 and 17 are preferably metallic dicated particularly inFigure 7. baseor flange 25 of each of the hollow tubular bars, of ahollow, flat, or generally flat tubular construction, formed by foldingstripsof sheetmetal of suitable thickness. The flat, generally tubularbars 15 and 17 are secured to the covers 13 and 12, by means of theinner lining 19 of the covers, which may be leather or imitationleather,or buckram, or other fabric. Thus, the inner lining 19 is foldedabout each of the bars in succession, as indicated particularly inFigure 7, with the intermediate portion 20 secured or affixed to theouter lining 21, thereby 'to formthe flexible or pliable back portion14. In order to insure the binding of'the bars 15 and 17, a row ofstitches 22 and 23 may be sewn through the two thicknesses of the innerlining 19, along the lines indicated in Figure 7 particularly, so thatthe bars will be securely encased within said lining, and will thus behingedly or flexibly secured to the covers.

Two or more hollow tubular posts 24 are mounted in the lower bar 15, ina manner in- Thus, the

posts is disposed between the two parallel and spaced walls of the fiattubular bar, with the post itself projecting through a suitable apertureinthe upper wall of said bar. The posts 24 are internally threaded andadjustably carry corresponding screws 26, having heads 27. The

heads- 27 are of a thickness such as will fit readily between the bottomand top parallel walls of the upper bar 17.

In the lower wall 28 of the upper bar 17, recesses 29 are provided,which enter the bar from the outer'edge thereofiand which are inregistering alignment with the posts 2 1. The width of the recesses 29is slightly greater than the diameter ofthe screw 26, but suificientlyless than the diameter of the head 27 thereof,. and the edge of theupper bar is cut out at 30, suinciently to clear the head of the screw,sothat The slide 31 is provided with a pair of L-shaped recesses 33,corresponding to the posts 24 and in operative alignment therewith, thewidth or" both portions of the L-shaped recesses being'slightly greaterthan the diameter of the head 27 of the screw 26, so that said head maybe positioned in any part of the L-shaped recess 33. The L-shapedrecesses 33 are disposed inoperative relation to the recesses 29 andedgeopenings 30 v in the bar 17, so that when the bar is pulled I Figures 2-a and 2b, and Figures 8and 9, the

out to its outer extreme position, indicated in heads 27 'may freelyenter the bar 17, through the'edge openings 30, with the screws 26extending downwardly through the recesses29 in the lower wall 28 of thebar 17, and with the edges of said recesses 29 projecting beneath, andinterlockingwith the heads 27 of the screws 26. When the heads 27 havethus entered. the bar,

. or when the bar has thus been slid onto the said heads by a movementgenerally in the plane of the bar, and transversely of the lengththereof,

l -the heads may be locked within the bar by moving the slide 31inwardly, so that the longitudinal portions of the L-shaped recesses 33are juxtaposed to the head, as indicated in Figures 3-a and 3b, andFigures 4-05 and l-b, and Figures '7, 10, 11 and 12.

The Figures 3a and 3-b, and la and l-5 show the successive lockingpositions of the slide.

By this means any force axially of the posts 24, tending to separate thebars 15 and 17, will be'borne by the lower wall of the upper bar 17, andwill not be borne by the slide 3l;-said slide merely serving to lock thepost heads within the upper bar.

In order to limit the sliding movement of the slide 31, a stop screwrivet 3 1 may be fastened into the slide 31, as indicated in Figures2-"0, 3-l1 and 4-42, with the head of the screw projecting into agenerally elongated longitudinal openin 35 in the upper wall of the bar17; the length of the opening 35 being such as to permit the: desiredtravel of the slide for a clear disengaging anda substantial lockingposition.

In order further to define the intermediate position of the slide, asshown particularly in,

Figures 3a and 3-b, a slight knob or a slightly raised projection 39 maybe provided on the slide, whichpresses against, and frictionally engagesthe inner surfaces of the lower wall of the bar 17, except when saidprojection 39 is brought into registering alignment with the clearanceopening 40 in said lower wall.

In order to maintain a constant and uniform friction between the slide31 and the bar 17,

the end of the slide 31, opposite to the handle 32;-

may besplit longitudinally to a suitable extent, as at 41, so as toproduce two separately flexible springs 42 and 43, which are bentslightly in opposite directions, so that one will bear frictionallyagainst the upper walls, while the other bears correspondingly againstthe lower walls of the bar 17.

r If desired, a stud 44 may also be mounted in the lower bar 15, toproject through central apertures or perforations in the loose leafsheets; In Figures 13, 14 and 15, is shown a modified constructionembodying my invention.

In this form of my invention, rivets 45 are provided extendingtransversely through the hollow tubular bar 17, without at the sametime, interfering with the sliding movement of the slide 31. Means areprovided moreover to enable the rivets to serve as limiting stops forthe longitudinal movement of the slide. I

Thus, according to the present modified construction embodying myinvention, spaced, registeringapertures 46 are provided on the upper andlower walls respectively of the hollow tubular bar 17, having suflicientdiameter to permit the passage therethrough of a suitable rivet 45. Asleeve 47, of slightly larger internal diameter than the externaldiameter of the rivet 45, is positioned within the bar 17 and about therivetreceiving apertures; said sleeve being of a length equal to thedistance between the upper and lower walls of the bar 17, and having arelatively high compression strength, thereby to support the walls ofthe hollow tubular bar 17 against collapse when the rivet 45 is headed.

Elongated apertures i8 are longitudinally disposed inthe slide 31generally in registry with said rivet-receiving apertures; saidelongated apertures being of slightly larger width than the externaldiameter of the sleeves 47, and of a length just suificient to permitthe slide to open and to close, without interference fro the sleeves 47.V

In Figure 16, I have shown a further modified embodiment of myinvention, whereby the split 49 of the hollow tubular bar 17, isdisposed in the top wall 50 of the bar 17, thereby to provide a solidbeam support for the head 2'7 of the post 24. In this embodiment of myinvention the opening 29 is integral and not composed of two registeringapertures, as found in the structure shown in Figures 2-a, 3a, and 4-a.

I am aware that my invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description, to indicate the scopeof the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I hereby claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A loose leaf binder including a pair of covers flexibly connectedthrough a back portion, a corresponding pair of bars intermediate saidcovers, connected thereto and extending generally parallel to the backthereof and in proximity thereto, a plurality of posts projecting fromone of said bars, having enlarged heads, the other of said bars having acorresponding plurality of recesses for the reception of the heads ofsaid posts by a relative movement in the plane of said bar, and saidlatter bar having portions engaging beneath said heads when receivedwithin said bar, thereby to engage the said posts in an axial directionwith respect thereto, and a slide carried by said latter bar, adapted toclose the entrances of said recesses in said bar and to open the same atwill.

2. A loose leaf binder including a pair of covers flexibly connectedthrough a back portion, a corresponding pair of bars intermediate saidcovers, connected thereto and extending generally parallel to the backthereof and in proximity thereto, a plurality of posts projecting fromone of said bars, and having members with enlarged heads threadedlycarried thereby, the other of said bars having a corresponding pluralityof generally transverse recesses for the reception of the heads of saidposts by relative movement in the plane of said bar, and said latter barhaving portions engaging beneath said heads when received within saidrecesses, thereby to engage the said posts in an axial direction withrespect thereto, and a slide carried by said latter bar, adapted toclose and open the entrances of said recesses, at will.

CYRUS E. MOREHOUSE.

